How Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Dogs Coping With the New Baby?

1 week ago

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might be new parents to their human baby, Archie, but they have quite the experience as a dog mom and dad. How are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s dogs coping with a new baby in the house? Find out, ahead.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s dogs

Before meeting and marrying Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was the proud fur mama two rescued pooches, a beagle named Guy and a Labrador-shepherd mix named Bogart. However, upon her big move across the pond, the Duchess of Sussex had to leave her beloved Bogart behind, as he was too old for the trek. But, don’t worry, Bogart is in good hands and living with close friends in Canada, where Meghan Markle once resided.

The Duchess of Sussex couldn’t stay a one dog girl for long. Soon after marrying her prince, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry adopted their first dog, together. “The couple got the dog — believed to be a Labrador — in early summer [2018],” Peoplereported. The dog’s name is still unclear. Many believed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex named their fur baby “Oz,” but Meghan Markle threw everyone off by stating people keep “getting her name wrong.”

How are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s dogs coping with the royal baby?

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What do Meghan Markle’s fur babies think of their new human brother? It’s not entirely clear. However, beagles and Labradors are said to be great with babies and children.

“Beagles are incredibly curious and sweet dogs,” Canna-Pet confirms. “They can make terrific family dogs because they are good with children and very playful.”

According to She Knows, Labradors are also excellent family pets. They are easy to train, excellent watchdogs, and loyal with a more mellow personality. Did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle adopt a Labrador puppy on purpose for this reason? It’s possible.

When preparing for a baby’s arrival, many dog owners choose to be proactive about their tactics. As a long-time dog owner, Meghan Markle likely helped prepare her pooches for Baby Archie’s arrival. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the breed isn’t the only thing to keep in mind when introducing a dog to a baby. “Dogs can be eager learners, but they can also exhibit jealousy because they are no longer the center of attention,” the AKC notes.

They go on to explain how making subtle changes to a dog’s routine might help with the introduction. With that in mind, Meghan Markle might have stopped paying as much attention to her dogs in the weeks ahead of the royal baby’s arrival, to help them with any potential jealousy issues. In addition, she and Prince Harry might have changed their sleeping arrangements or walk schedule to better align with a baby’s potential schedule. Some also play recordings of baby sounds to help their dogs get used to the noise, which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might have tried.

When bringing a new baby home, AKC suggests greeting a dog on its own so that it doesn’t jump onto the baby. They also recommend allowing the dog to get used to the baby’s sounds for a few days before introducing them in closer proximity. On top of that, they note on the value of paying attention to your dog when it’s around the baby. “You don’t want him to decide good things only happen when the baby isn’t around,” they remark.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s plan for introducing their dogs to Baby Archie isn’t known — yet, at least — but it’s possible that they tried some of these tactics to help their fur babies and human baby adjust to sharing parents.